Playing Up Read Online Free PDF Page A

embarrassment.
    â€˜There’s probably nobody here you’d be interested in,’ Benny said, then belched. He had finished his phone call and joined them again. ‘The team tries hard, but let’s face it, we’re not very good.’ Benny hoicked up his pants. Despite his round belly, Benny was a compulsive Harry Highpants.
    Rob checked his watch and shook his head. ‘I’ve seen enough thanks, Benny.’ He turned to Sunil. ‘Can I get your name and a phone number for your parents?’ He had his notebook at the ready. ‘I’d like to give them a call to have a chat about the possibility of you playing for the rep team.’
    Sunil spelt out his name and gave Rob his parents’ mobile numbers. ‘This is my friend, Davey Warner,’ he then said, stepping to the side to introduce the selector to Davey.



Rob smiled politely and fell into conversation, asking Sunil about his cricket aspirations. Davey felt like a fish out of water.
    The selector hadn’t even noticed him. The worst thing about it was that Davey understood why. If he was a regional selector, he wouldn’t have noticed himself either. Davey was even more determined to get Kaboom back and show the selector just what he was made of.

CHAPTER 8
SNIFFER DOG SUCCESS
    Davey woke with a start. It was dark outside, but he could have sworn he’d heard a noise outside his bedroom window.
    He glanced at Max, who was fast asleep on Davey’s bed, back legs in the air, snoring lightly.
    â€˜Some guard dog you make!’ Davey nudged the dog, who rolled over and promptly went back to sleep.
    Davey hopped out of bed and opened the curtains.
    â€˜Yikes!’ Davey nearly fell over backwards at the sight of Sunil’s face pressed right up against the window.
    â€˜Scared the life out of me,’ Davey muttered.
    Sunil mouthed the words ‘ Open up ’ and held a finger to his lips. Sunil must be up to one of his schemes , Davey thought. He wondered what it was.
    He opened the window and peered sleepily at his friend. ‘It’s not time for morning detention yet, is it?’ Davey asked.
    â€˜I’ve had an idea about where Kaboom might be,’ Sunil said. ‘I’ll tell you on the way to get Kevin and George.’
    Despite being grounded forever for getting his bat confiscated, Davey nodded and began dressing.
    â€˜We’ll need one of your shirts,’ Sunil added, ‘and the smellier the better.’
    â€˜Easy!’ Davey handed over his training shirt from the night before. It ponged all right.
    â€˜And we need Max,’ Sunil said.
    Davey gave a low whistle and Max leapt to his feet. He stood alert on the bed, tail wagging, ready for action. Davey climbed out the window and joined his friend.
    â€˜Come on, dog,’ Davey called to Max.
    Max leapt expertly out of the window and Sunil closed it quietly behind him.

    George did a sweep of the empty playground with his binoculars, taking in the surrounding quadrangle of buildings.
    â€˜The coast is clear,’ he reported.
    â€˜That’s because nobody in their right minds would be at school this early,’ Kevin grunted.
    â€˜There’s Trundle!’ Kevin pointed towards the east corner of the school. ‘Right on time, as usual.’
    Mrs Trundle insisted on unlocking all of the classrooms in the school each morning. After completing this task, she monitored the main school gate – trying to catch outany uniform offences and generally being a nuisance.
    The sound of keys jangling grew louder. Max’s ears pricked up, but Kevin shot him a dirty look, willing him not to bark. For once, Max did what someone wanted him to do.
    Kevin watched as Mrs Trundle unlocked the 6M classroom door.
    â€˜We’ve got about ten minutes before Mudge arrives for detention,’ Sunil said.
    The boys shot inside the classroom. They knew exactly where to look. Mudge had a large metal cabinet in